Cottonwood Kilns

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In 1873 Colonel Sherman Stevens built a sawmill and flume on
Cottonwood Creek high in the Sierras. The lumber from the flume
was used for timbering in the mine and buildings. Wood from the
mill was turned into charcoal in these kilns and shipped across
the lake on the "Mollie Stevens" or "Bessie Brady" steamers, then
hauled by wagon up the "Yellow Grade" to the
Cerro Gordo mines for
use in thier smelter furnaces.